Retrieve Techniques for Bass Fishing – It's about the Allure

Retrieves are the returning of the lure back to the angler after the cast and initial lure action.

Retrieve techniques are important to:

Imparts Lure Action: Using the rod and reel impart the subtle or erratic action of the lure.
Keeps Lure in Strike Zone: Using the reel and rod tip position to control the depth of the lure.

There are two categories of retrieves:

Reel Retrieves: Reel Retrieves,where the reel is the primary instrument of the retrieve technique (opposed to a rod retrieve), as the reel is used to move the lure back to the angler. Reel retrieve is used for tight line presentation (no slack line). For example, straight retrieves and its different variants are reel retrieves.
Rod Retrieves: Rod Retrieves, where the rod is the primary instrument of the retrieve technique (opposed to a reel retrieve), as the rod is used to move the lure back to angler by two continuous steps:
1. Use the rod to move the lure towards of the angler (no reel) then,
2. The reel is used to remove the slack line while moving the rod towards the lure. During this short or long break in the retrieve the lure’s action is based on the lure’s design for slack line.
  Then repeat 1 and 2 until the lure is out of the strike zone or back to the boat.
For example, the drag retrieve is with long rod movements for step 1 and the jerk retrieve or walk retrieve are for short rod movements for step 1. The reel’s primary role is to remove the introduced slack line.

Lure Action: Retrieve technique impart the lure action.
Fishing Speed: Retrieve speeds maximizes the lure action while determining the time spent covering water.
Strike Zone: Retrieve technique and speed maximize the lure in the strike zone.
Initial Action: After the cast and prior to the retrieve.
Secondary Action: Imparting a secondary action to the primary retrieve.

Rod Retrieve Lures or go directly to drag, walk, jerk, twitch, hop or dead-stick retrieve lures.

Reel Retrieve Lures or directly to straight retrieves including burn, slow-roll, pop and wake retrieve lures.